Effects of Vitamin C Loading on Serum Constituents in Man 1

Abstract

Loading doses of vitamin C in volunteer subjects produce a variety of changes in serum components. When the grouped means of baseline studies are compared with the results of 12 weeks of vitamin C loading (3.0 g/day), there are significant differences. Serum ascorbic acid, lactate dehydrogenase, and albumin all show increases; sodium, uric acid, alanine aminotransferase, and globulins are significantly decreased when evaluated by Student's t test. Although biweekly variations in the lipid parameters of serum cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglyceride, lecithinxholesterol acyltransferase activity, and bile acids were found, there were no significant differences in the grouped means for baseline and experimental periods. There was a significant increase in leukocyte ascorbic acid, but no other change in cell distribution or number. It is suggested that these types of studies might also be interpreted in terms of R. J. Williams' “biochemical individuality” as well as more conventional statistical studies.